GREEN ROOFS FOR THE WEST SYMPOSIUM DEBUTS AT DENVER BOTANIC GARDENSGREEN ROOFS FOR THE WEST SYMPOSIU

The first-annual Green Roofs for the West Symposium will take place at Denver Botanic Gardens on June 18 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. This forward-thinking and informative event – co-hosted by the Gardens, U.S. Green Building Council and Colorado State University – will spotlight the innovative ways green roofs are leading us to a future of more sustainable cities in the challenging climate of the West.

The Green Roofs for the West Symposium will feature a full day of in-depth sessions, presented by leading green roof experts and designers from across the U.S. and Canada. Well-known speakers include Edmond Snodgrass, co-author of “Green Roof Plants;” Tom Liptan, pioneer of the innovative green roof program in Portland, Ore.; and Charlie Miller, principal of Roofscapes Inc. Sessions will cover the benefits of green roofs, green roof design and making the business case for green roofs. The Gardens’ nationally recognized Senior Curator and Director of Outreach Panayoti Kelaidis will speak on choosing plants for green roof use.

This symposium delves beneath the surface to inform professionals about green roof viability and implications in the West, and lay the groundwork to influence policy in Denver and the Intermountain West. Two panel discussions will include regional experts, architects and landscape architects (including Colorado Sen. Rollie Heath, District 18; representatives from Greenprint Denver; Denver’s Urban Drainage and Flood Control District; David Tryba, Denver AIA president and principal/owner of David Tryba Architects; and Landscape Architect Craig Vickers, principal at Civitas) and will address issues of green roof design, green jobs, storm water management and public policy.

This event is tailored to architects, landscape architects and designers, facility managers, policy makers, energy specialists, engineers, horticulturists and students. It includes a trade show featuring a variety of businesses that cater to the needs of professionals in these industries.

The Gardens’ own green roof, which showcases more than 50 species and varieties of drought-tolerant plants, will be open throughout the day for tours. Green Industry professionals visiting the Gardens during the symposium are also encouraged to stroll the grounds, network with their peers, participate in panel discussions and learn about other sustainability programs at the Gardens.

“This conference will revolutionize the way Coloradans view green roofs, and prove that they are a viable and integral component of sustainable development in the arid West,” says Deb Kleinman, executive director of the Colorado chapter of U.S. Green Build Council.